Hi Everyone,
I, Michael Lettman, would like to share how I've started my College Life that I've experienced within the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program by AHRC NYC + a little from how I've been doing from working in AHRC TV News (before it came to its end).
A College Life's Beginning
While I was in my AHRC Community Program (dayhab without walls), they suggested that I start attending the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program because they believe that it would help with my future goals. I wasn't sure about it since I've always believed that college life is tough & complicated but when I learned more about how many within the autistic community attended the college program which helped them out with their goals, I've decided to give it a chance to work on my goals for my future life. So after getting everything together from my said program, I gave them a nice goodbye for everything they've done for me since I've been in their program ever since I graduated from P373K & I've started to prepare myself for my College Life in my College Program at Kingsborough Community College.
I never thought the College Life from AHRC's Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program could be very helpful for the autistic community. Maybe there are people with disabilities out there who wishes to experience that kind of life. Which is why an organization like AHRC NYC were more than happy to provide a dedicated college program for people with disabilities to experience the college life. So I'm gonna hope that the Autistic Community can do their best with learning in colleges so they can achieve their future goals.
This is my Goodbye to the nice Dayhab Without Walls program in AHRC NYC that I've been with ever since I've graduated from P373K, Please Enjoy!
Due to being away on My 1st MSC Cruise Trip (in Summer 2019), I've missed out on some of the beginning days for new students who've started attending the college program but I still managed to have started after I came back from my trip. I've learned about the College Program's semesters & schedules. I've acquired the school supplies that I'll need for the classes I'm taking. I've learned about the mentors who'll be with me in my classes & who can help me in my college work only if I really need help. I've learned about choosing classes I might like to try taking or classes that I need to take in order to graduate. I've learned that I'll be in my college program for 4 years (up to Graduation in 2023), I've also learned about the alumni program for one final year after graduating which I've ended up accepting.
I would like to share an example in how I was prepared to begin my College Life in the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program, Please Enjoy!
AHRC TV News
While I was in my AHRC community program, I've been working in a group that are practicing to become an Independent TV News Crew which was formed by Edwardo Grispo (who works as a mentor & a media specialist in AHRC's Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program) & I'm still in the group while I was attending my college program so I would say that AHRC TV News became part of my life as an advocate. As we've tried our best to become an appreciated news group for AHRC NYC, I've hoped that the autistic community will be grateful to hear "The New Voice in News" if AHRC TV News had become better for everyone.
As of January 2020, AHRC TV News has been published so you can see some of the results of AHRC TV News on AHRC NYC's YouTube Channel.
As of March 2020, AHRC TV News had to shut down due to the Coronavirus Pandemic & our upcoming plans at the time were ruined at the time.
As of March 2021, AHRC TV News were able to reunite via zoom which lead to me seeing a few original members of our crew again, however we lost most crew members who've chosen to depart from the crew during COVID-19 pandemic. With Director Edwardo getting back to work with his remaining crew members remotely, we'll eventually await to get our freedom back so we can return to our in-person work again.
As of March 2023, despite AHRC's Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program returning back to their freedom, Director Edwardo had chosen to remain doing meetings via zoom until further notice.
The Original Crew of AHRC TV News
Edwardo Grispo - Director
Steven Morales - Editor
Killian McMahon - Anchor
Michael Lettman - Anchor
Alyssa Canty - Reporter
Keyabe Thomas - Reporter
Fernando Cruz - Camera Operator
Karaibe Hebbert - Camera Operator
Vincenzo Romana (aka Vincent) - Camera Operator
Darren Smith - Production Assistant
From AHRC NYC's Channel on YouTube, I would like to present the original promo of AHRC TV News with it's entire crew (before we were brought down by COVID-19 pandemic), Please Enjoy!
NOTE: One of our Camera Operators's last name got misspelled into "Romano" by mistake so please remember that his real name is Vincenzo Romana!
The End of AHRC TV News
Due to a job offer, Director Edwardo Grispo had departed from AHRC NYC & thus bringing the end of AHRC TV News. All former crew members had gone their ways & I'm actually gonna miss what our old news crew used to be (before COVID-19 really brought us down).